Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Remember “Second Life,” that expansive virtual reality platform that was a metaverse before metaverse became a thing? The comic book series “Simulation Theory” by Curt Pires and Darryl Knickrehm explores a similar concept but takes it up a notch by setting the story in a dystopian future. In this fictional universe, the real world is a mess, so most people inhabit a virtual reality called “The Verse.” Their bodies are preserved in cryo chambers by the corporation that owns it. However, it’s not the utopian escape it is made out to be.
Issue #1 of “Simulation Theory” introduces Ash, a young woman who still inhabits the real world, is deep in gambling debt, and gets beaten to a pulp by debt collectors. The comic series starts off on a violent, tense note, which will definitely draw in many readers. An ex-boyfriend working for “The Verse” offers Ash a chance to start over in the virtual reality world, but when she accepts the offer, she’s not prepared for the new misadventures that await her.
I didn’t like the art style in “Simulation Theory.” Not only does it look somewhat unappealing, but it doesn’t complement the far-out sci-fi themes of the plot. It might have suited a psychological horror series more. The illustrations aren’t captivating, which makes the comic book series less exciting, at least for me. Additionally, the whole virtual reality aspect of the story feels underutilized in the first two issues, not just plot-wise, but also visually. For example, the art style in “By A Thread,” another sci-fi futuristic comic book series by Comixology, is the kind of style that would have made “Simulation Theory” much more exciting for me to read.
Based on the first two issues of “Simulation Theory,” the plot feels thin and formulaic, with many details not making sense. Ash, except for being a woman, is like a stereotypical lead from action movies—a bad-guy type who always gets into trouble, can’t stay in a committed relationship, and is always looking for a quick way out of problems. I don’t think I want to read the next few issues—it’s a five-part series—even though “Simulation Theory” is free to read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Rating: 2 on 5.
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